Packaging machine



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Filed Dec. 23, 1950 R. s. JENNEY PACKAGING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 5 A 456 L Y A Di EU 275 L280 2 9 Patented July 13, 1954- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING MACHINE Ray S. Jenney, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, Mich, a corporation of Delaware 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in packaging machines and refers particularly to a machine for automatically packaging a predetermnied number of individual articles in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to each other in a carton or box.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for packaging shredded wheat biscuits and for purposes of illustration the machine will be described, and its operation explained, in conjunction With the packaging of shredded wheat biscuits. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not to be limited to the packaging of this specific article, nor is it intended to be limited to the packaging of food products generally, since the invention will find use Wherever it may be desired to package individual articles, whatever their nature, which are generally of the size and shape of a shredded wheat biscut and where it is desired to package the articles in a predetermined positional relationship within a preformed package or carton.

In one manner of packaging shredded wheat biscuits, the biscuits are packaged fifteen to a package, the biscuits being arranged-in five tiers, three biscuits to a tier. The biscuits are disposed in the package with their sides of greatest area parallel to the top and bottomof the package; their length disposed at right angles to the sides of the package-and their width disposed at right angles to the ends of the package. In ad dition, between adjacent tiers of three biscuits each, a separator, usually constructed of corrugated fibrous material, conformable generally With the sectional area of the package, is disposed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to package individual articles in a fashion generally similar to the manner of packaging shredded wheat biscuits as hereinbefore described. Of course, obvious modifications of the machine hereinafter described can be made to modify this method of packaging, for instance, the number of articles per tier may be changed and/ or the number of tiers per package may be changed and, if desired, the use or" separators between adjacent tiers may or may not. be lispensed with.

In copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 184,544, filed September 13, 1950, in the names of Ray S. Jenney and Robert E. Fetherston, a conveyor is shown and described for moving, in a continuous fashion, individual articles, such as shredded wheat biscuits, to a packaging machine or a separating and aligning machine such as described in copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 194,166, filed November 4, 1950, in the names of Ray S. J enney, Robert Fetherston, and Glen Miller. In the first mentioned application for United States Letters Patent the movement of shredded wheat biscuits moving from an oven in a row by row movement is converted to a sequential or series travel, where the biscuits follow each other in seriatim, In the second mentioned application for United States Letters Patent sequentially traveling articles such as shredded wheat biscuits are diverted in a predetermined sequential fashion so as to move in a row by row movement or a moveemnt substantially resembling a row by row movement. In this application for patent the articles are oriented so that during their movement they move in the direction of their longitudinal axes. If desired, the present invention may be employed in conjunction with the machines described in the two above-mentioned applications for United States Letters Patent. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to this specific environment since the concepts thereof may be employed independently of any specific type of feed mechanism.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates receiving a predetermined number of articles which are carried in separate parallel passageways, the number of passageways cor responding to the number of articles which are adapted to be packaged in the carton. The passageways are in turn segregated into groups of passageways, the number of groups being equal to the number of tiers of articles in the carton. Ihe number of passageways constituting each group being equal to the number of articles constituting a tier. The articles thus carried are fed to a number of packaging stations corresponding to the number of tiers in the finished package, one group of passageways leading to each packaging station. A plurality of package forms are intermittently carried transverse to the movement of the articles and mechanism is provided for charging the articles in each group of passageways to individual package forms during each dwell of movement of the packaging forms. In this fashion a tier of articles is charged to a package form in each of the packaging stations. The package forms continue their intermittent movement and a preformed carton envelopes the forms whereby the articles are disposed in the preformed carton in a predetermined positional relationship. During the charging of the various tiers of articles in the packaging stations means may be employed, if desired, for interposing spacers between adjacent tiers of articles. The operation, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the packaging machine embodying the concepts of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine, looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the opposite side of the front portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view illustrating portions of the elements of Fig. 4. in a different position or phase of operation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the machine taken on line 1-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed elevational view showing the separator charging mechanism for one packaging station.

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view taken on line I3I3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through the cabinet for housing the fluid-timing control mechanism, illustrating said mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on line I5I5 of Fi 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of various of the solenoids employed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, II indicates opposite frame members of the packaging machine. A transverse channel iron 2 is supported by the frame members II and carries a beam 3 of T section. A plate 4 is secured to a portion of the beam 3 and carries at its opposite ends, end plates or standards 5. A plurality of adjacent rolls 5 are journaled at their opposite ends in the opposite standards 5, said rolls all being adapted to be driven in the same angular direction, that is, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. A shaft '5 is journaled in suitable bearings 8--& carried by the transverse channel iron 2, the rolls 6 being driven by suitable gear trains 9 and I9, certain of said gears not being shown. The arrangement, however, is such that rolls 6 and shaft I rotate in the same angular direction, the rolls 5 being driven from the shaft 1.

A motor II is mounted upon one of the frame members I, said motor being adapted to drive shaft 7 by means of sprocket chain I2 trained around motor sprocket wheel I3 and shaft sprocket wheel I4. A plurality of pulleys I5 are mounted upon shaft 7 and around each pulley a belt I6 is trained. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the belts I6 are conveyor belts for moving articles toward the packaging stations. The articles are carried to the upper passes of the belts I6 over rolls 6 which function as a bridge from a feed conveyor I1 which at the end of its upper pass is trained around roll l8. As has been hereinbefore described the present machine may have the articles to be packaged delivered thereto in any suitable manner, for instance, by the mechanisms shown and described in the applications for patent hereinbefore identified. Of course, the present invention is not to be limited to any specific feed mechanism, but in the handling of shredded wheat biscuits those mechanisms described in said applications for patent have been found to be particularly suitable.

For purposes of description, the conveyor IT is shown as the means for delivering the articles to the present machine, said conveyor intended to represent any suitable means for feeding the articles to the machine. Further, for purposes of description only and not by way of limitation, the articles handled and packaged by the present machine are shown as being conventional shredded wheat biscuits.

As has been hereinbefore described shredded wheat biscuits may be packaged fifteen to a package, the biscuits being disposed in the package in five tiers, three biscuits to a tier. The concept of the present machine is such that it is divided into a plurality of duplicate units equal in number to the number of tiers in the package, namely, five duplicate units. In general, the entrances to the five units are designated (Fig. 1) by the reference numerals I9, 20, 2|, 22 and 23.

Each unit comprises three parallel conveyor belts l6 trained around rolls l5. Partition plates 24 supported at one end upon the T-beam 3 and at the other end upon transverse bar 25, separate each group of three belts IS, the bar 25 being, in

turn, supported upon vertical frame members 26. Between the partition plates 24 are partitions 21 which separate adjacent belts I6 from each other. Belts I6, at the end of their upper passes are .3 trained around rolls 28 carried by transverse shaft 29 carried by partition plate 24. Each of the belts I 6 at its lower pass wraps around a belt tightening roll 30, carried by an arm 3'! which, in turn, is pivotally mounted upon transverse shaft Each belt then wraps around an idler roll 33 and returns over roll I5.

A supporting plate or platform 34, carried by opposite brackets 35, is mounted immediately beneath the upper passes of the belts I6 included between adjacent partition plates 24, the brackets 35 being secured to said partition plates by any suitable fastening means, such as screws 36. The belts It, at their upper passes slide upon and are supported by the plates 34. Forward of each plate 34 and in substantial planar alignment with the upper passes of the belts I6, is a stationary platform 31 supported by brackets 38 secured to opposite partition plates 24.

A cover strip 39 is positioned above the upper pass of each of the belts I6, each of said strips carrying spaced lugs 40. A pair of rods BI and 42 are disposed transversely with respect to the belts i 6, being secured in partition plates 24, each of said rods carrying a plurality of arms 43 and 44, respectively. The arms 43 and 44 are pivotally secured to lugs of the strips 39 and function to suspend said strips in spaced relationship above the belts I6. Arms 43 and 44 are adjustably positioned upon rods 4| and 42 respectively and may be so fixed with respect to the rods as to position the strips at a desired elevation above the belts. In practice the strips 39 are positioned above the belts at a distance Slightly greater than the thickness of the articles carried upon the belts, whereby a plurality of substantially closed passageways are provided, being defined by the partition plates 24, the partitions 21, the belts l6 and the strips 39. Each of the strips 39 at its rear end extends over a roll 6 and terminates at its forward end over the rear portion of the stationary platform 3?.

For purposes of description it is assumed that a plurality of articles, shredded wheat biscuits 45, are positioned end to end upon each conveyor belt l6 (Fig. 4). The movement of the biscuits upon the belt will push a plurality of the biscuits, illustrated as two in number, upon the stationary platform 37. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the biscuits upon the belts l6 must be contiguous or the packaging portion of the machine is rendered temporarily inoperative until this conditions obtains.

Solenoids 3-5 are mounted upon brackets 41 carried by partition plates 24, there being a total of five solenoids, one corresponding to each tier of biscuits in the package, that is, one corresponding to each packaging station. Each solenoid 46 carries a movable plunger G8 which is pivotally secured at its end to a link 43. A shaft 50 is disposed transversely between adjacent partition plates 24, each shaft carrying a bell crank lever 5|. One arm 52 of each bell crank lever is pivotally connected to each link 43. Each bell crank lever is keyed to each shaft 56 whereby movement of the bell crank lever results in movement of the associated shaft. Each shaft 50 carries three spaced hubs which are keyed to the associated shaft and each hub carries a step bar 5% which terminates in an offset stop finger 55. The respective stop fingers "55 are normally disposed in the path of travel of the endmost articles upon platforms 3? whereby the columns of articles 45 are temporarily prevented from moving forwardly. A coil spring 55 is anchored at one end upon arm 52 of each bell crank lever 5i and at its opposite end upon the adjacent partition plate whereby the bell crank levers are resiliently urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The opposed arm 5? of each bell crank lever 51 carries an adjusting screw 58 at its end which cooperates with a stop 55! carried upon the adjacent partition plate 2 i. By this arrangement the clocks movement of the bell crank levers may be tably limited, thereby limiting the clockwise movement of the stop fingers 55.

A housing is supported on top of the partition plates 24, and extends across all the groups of belts. A. plurality of micro-switches Bl are positioned said housing, one micro-switch being provided for each belt 56. is provided with an elongated slot 52 and a feeler arm E3 extends through each slot. Each feeler arm 83 is connected mechanically at one end to each micro-switch 6i, an intermediate portion of each arm being curved or arced and being adapted to ride upon the tops of at least two adjacent articles or biscuits at some time during their travel upon belts it.

As will be hereinafter more fully described when the timing of the machine is explained, all of the micro-switches M are connected in series and when all of the arms ar in the position shown in full lines in Fig. i the series circuit comp-rising the switches is clo ed. However, if the biscuits passing beneath the curved Each strip 3!;

tion will drop to the broken line position and the switch in question will be opened. It can readily be seen that if any one of the arms '63 moves to a dotted line position, that is, if there is less than the requisite number of biscuits on any of the belts, the series circuit including the microswitches 6| will be opened. With the opening of the micro-switch circuit the solenoid 46 and the subsequent mechanism, to be hereinafter described will be rendered inoperative, and will remain inoperative until the micro-switch circuit is closed. Motor H is not included in the microswitch circuit and, hence, belts IE will continue to move even though the subsequent apparatus is rendered inoperative. Accordingly, if the deficiency of biscuits upon belts I6 is temporary, with the arrival of additional biscuits the micro-switch circuit will be closed and the machine will resume operation.

As has been hereinbefore described, the stop fingers 55 are adapted to restrain forward move ment of the biscuits until the obstructing gates '54 are raised by the energization of the solenoids 35. As will be hereinafter described, for optimum operation of the machine a column of biscuits accumulates upon end belt Hi, the biscuits in each column being in end-abutting relation? ship. Accordingly, the biscuit at the end of the upper pass of each belt iii is moved onto the platform 3'. by the force of the column of biscuits, the biscuits moving from the conveyor belts onto the platforms 3? until the endmost biscuit of each column is stopped by the respective stop finger 55. In accordance with the timing of the machine, the solenoids 36 are periodically energized thereby swinging gates 54 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby raising the stop fingers 55 and permitting the endmost biscuits upon platforms 3? to be discharged forwardly by the urging of the biscuit columns behind each of the enclmost biscuits. The period of energization of the solenoids 48 is such that one transverse row of biscuits across the machine is permittedto be discharged from. the platforms 3? at one time and one of the factors which controls this operation is the velocity of belt i 6. The velocity of the belt 2-6 is such that one biscuit will be pushed from each of the platforms 3'! during the cycle time allotted for the lift, dwell and return of stop 55 for one cycle. When the solenoids are deenergized, through the agency of springs 56 the stop fingers 5.5 prevent the next biscuits in the columns from moving forwardly 01f platform 37.

The transverse row of biscuits released by the gates 5 3 are pushed onto a plurality of endless conveyor belts 55* which are trained around rolls 5% and 65. Each belt 54 is in alignment with each belt it, the belts iii being grouped in threes, there being five such groups. At the forward ends of the upper passesof the belts 64, a stationary platform 6? is positioned, being carried by angle iron 68. By this means the five groups, three biscuits to the group, are fed into five packaging stations bait/H12 and 13.

A shaft it is carried by the partition plates 24, said shaft extending entirely across the machine. An arm T5 is rigidly mounted upon an end of said shaft, said arm being pivotally connected at its end to a curved connecting member 76. The connecting member it carries a. rod H which is e de r aged with a sleeve 78. At the op- DOsite end of the sleeve it a rod 19 is threadedly positioned, said rod being carried by joint member '86. A piston rod BI is connected to the joint member 86, said piston rod being carried by a piston (not shown) which operates in hydraulic cylinder 82, said cylinder being mounted upon a portion of the frame of the machine. The arrangement is such that reciprocating motion of the piston rod 8I results in a rocking motion of shaft I4.

A plurality of arms 83 are rigidly connected to the shaft 14 and are adapted to move with said shaft when the latter is rocked. There are five arms 83, one for each of the packaging stations 69 to I3 inclusive. A shaft 84 is carried between adjacent partition plates 24, there being five such shafts. An arm 85 is rigidly mounted upon each of said shafts and at the end of each arm a link 86 functions to pivotally connect the ends of the arms 85 and 88. The arrangement is such that when shaft i4 is rocked all of the shafts 84 are rocked throughout substantially the same angle.

A pair of arms 81 are rigidly mounted at their upper ends upon each shaft 64, the arms 81 being disposed on opposite sides of the arm 85 upon each shaft 84. A pusher member 68 carries spaced lugs 89 upon its upper surface and the ends of arms 81 are pivotally connected to said lugs. Each pusher member 88 carries an additional pair of lugs 96 which are pivotally connected to the lower ends of a pair of arms 9I.

The upper ends of each pair of arms 9| are rigidly carried upon a shaft 92 which in turn are carried between adjacent partition plates 24.

The arrangement is such that when piston rod BI is reciprocated, shaft 74 which extends across the machine is rocked thereby rocking each of the arms '83. The arms 83 in turn rock the arms 85 thereby rocking each of the shafts 84. The rocking movement of each of the shafts 84 results in an arcuate movement of each of the pusher members 88. By virtue, however, of the suspension of the pusher members 88, said pusher members, throughout their swinging movement, move substantially parallel to the belts 64.

At the forward end of each pusher member 88 a pusher plate 93 extends downwardly. Each pusher plate carries a pair of cantilever wires 94, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. In addition, the forward portion of each of the pusher plates 93 carries a resilient pad 98 which may conveniently take the form of sponge rubber, soft felt or the like.

In the operation of the machine the solenoids 46 when energized swing the gates 54 thereby releasing a transverse row of biscuits 45 onto the upper passes of the belts 64. As has been hereinbefore described, but one biscuit is released from each column of biscuits. The transverse row of biscuits discharged to the upper passes of the belts 64 are carried forwardly to the platforms 61'. During the movement of the biscuits upon the belts 64 the shaft 14 is so rocked as to move the pusher members 88 to their extreme clockwise positions, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When the pusher members are in this position, the pusher plates 93 are raised above the path of travel of the biscuits upon the belts 64. When the biscuits carried by the belts 64 come to rest upon the platform 61, the shaft 14 is rocked so as to move the pusher members 86 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. As the pusher members 88 swing in a counterclockwise direction the pusher plates 99 carried thereby move into contiguous relationship with the rear ends of the biscuits carried upon the platform 8 6! and as a result thereof said biscuits are moved forwardly off of the platform 61. The arrangement is such that after the row of biscuits is pushed forwardly by the pusher members 88 another row of biscuits is moved by the conveyor belts 64 to be positioned upon the platform 61,

The frame member 26 is of channel construction and is disposed transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the belts I8 and 64. A similar channel frame member 96 is also disposed transverse to the direction of travel of the belts and is positioned in substantially parallel spaced relationship with respect to the frame member 26. The frame members 26 and 96 are secured together in appropriate spaced relationship by means of spacer rods 91.

A pair of shafts 98 and 99 are journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frame members 26 and 96, said shafts being disposed transversely with respect to the frame members and in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other. Two pair of sprocket wheels I66 and HH are mounted respectively upon the shafts 98 and 69, the sprocket wheels constituting each pair being disposed in spaced relationship to each other. Sprocket chains I62 and I63 are trained around each pair of sprocket wheels I66 and EM whereby the sprocket wheels are all moved in unison.

A pair of frame members I64--I64 (Figs. 4, 7 and 8) are carried by the rods 9'1, said frame members being disposed in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other. The sprocket wheels W6 and I6I and the chains I62 and I63 operate between the spaced plates I64.

Carried upon the upper and lower edges of each of the plates I64I64 are guide strips I65 which are secured to the respective frame members I64-I64 by means of screws I66 or the like. A pair of guide blocks I61 are carried by each of the plates I64-i64, being secured thereto by means of screws I68 or the like. The guide strips I65 and the guide blocks I67 define guideways I69 in the opposite plates I64I64, said guideways being positioned adjacent the upper and lower edges of the plates I64I64 and being ooextensive in length with said plates.

A plurality of form supports I I6 are secured in spaced relationship to each other upon the sprocket chains I62 and I63. Each of the form supports I I 6 carries two pair of rollers I I I which are adapted to move in the guideways I69. It can readily be seen that when the sprocket chains I62 and I63 are moved the form supports II6 move in unison therewith, said supports being guided by rollers III which travel in the guideways I69.

A form bracket H2 is carried by each of the form supports II6, each of said brackets supporting a form IE3. Each form H3 defines generally a volume which resembles the volume of the carton in which the articles are to be packaged. Each form comprises side walls I I4, a rear wall II5 which extends only partially throughout the length of the side walls and an apertured front wall H6. The top of the form is open. In the operation of the device the movement of the chains I62 and I63 results in movement of the forms I I3, said forms moving transversely adjacent the platform 6! from which the articles, shredded wheat biscuits, are delivered forwardly.

A track I I! is secured to the inner face of the frame member 96 at its upper portion. The track II I, as can readily be seen in Fig. '7, is straight throughout portions thereof; is inclined throughout portions thereof and is curved 3 throughout other portions thereof. The track I I! is substantially endless with the exception of one relatively short break therein.

Each form I I3 carries a platform IIS which in turn is mounted upon a plate H3, the plate being disposed adjacent, and substantially parallel to, the front wall H6 of the form. A block I23 is carried upon each plate IIS and terminates in a stub shaft IZI which carries a roller I22. The roller I22 is adapted to be positioned in track In and during movement of the chains I02 and I03 the roller I22, following the contour of the track II'I moves the platform H3 of each form II3 longitudinally with respect to the form. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the platforms H8 in the various forms H3, when said forms are moved adjacent the packaging stations 69 to 13 inclusive function as movable bottoms for the forms I I3. The motion of the chains I32 and I03 is intermittent so that a form I I3 dwells adjacent a packaging station for a predetermined period of time before it moves therefrom. It will be noted that the track I I? adjacent the packaging stations 69 to 13 inclusive is inclined. The arrangement is such that the platforms H8 in those forms II3 disposed opposite the respective packaging stations are in a vertically staggered relationship, generally conforming with the angle of inclination of the track. The angle of inclination of the track I I I adjacent the packaging stations is such, taken in conjunction with the space between adjacent forms II3 that the platforms II 8 of adjacent forms opposite the packaging stations are spaced vertically from each other a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the articles to be packed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4, ll, 12 and 13 a transverse frame member I23 is carried upon the upper portion of the channel sup-port 33. The frame member I23 is provided with an elongated recess I24 in which a shear plate I25 is secured. The frame member I23 at its upper portion also carries platform I26.

The frame member I23 comprises a casting which has two opposite end portions I2? (Fig. 11) which carry end walls I28. A plate I29 is secured to each of the end walls I28 by means of spacer screws I30. Each of the plates I29 carries a bearing I3I in which a shaft I32 is journaled at its opposite ends. secured to shaft I32 adjacent one of the bearings I3I and said shaft carries a plurality of spaced rolls I 34 intermediate its length. The rolls I34 are provided with corrugated surface I35, the function of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The rolls I34 are separated from each other throughout the length of the shaft I32 by spacer members I36. I

A stub shaft I31 is mounted upon one plate I23, namely that plate to which spur gear I33 is adjacent. A pawl plate I38 is carried by the stub shaft I3'I and is freely movable relative to said shaft. A ratchet wheel I33 is loosely mounted upon the shaft I3'I and is disposed adjacent the pawl plate I38. A pair of spaced pawls I45 and MI are pivotally mounted, as at I42 and I43 respectively (Fig. 12) upon the pawl plate I38. Blade springs I44 and I45 bear respectively upon one end of each of the pawls I40 and MI whereby the noses I46 and MI of said pawls respectively are urged toward the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel I39. A spur gear I48 is also loosely mounted upon the stub shaft I31 and meshes with spur gear I33 mounted upon shaft I32.

A bracket I49 is secured by means of screws or A spur gear I 33 is rigidly iii the like I 55 to the frame member 95, said bracket at its opposite end supporting a fluid pressure cylinder I5I. Piston rod I52 which operates in the cylinder I5! is connected by means of connecting rod I53 to pawl plate I38, the connection between the connecting rod IE3 and the pawl plate being pivotal. The arrangement is such that when piston rod I52 moves upwardly it rocks pawl plate I38 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 12, thereby rocking the pawls I and I4! relative to the ratchet wheel I39. The ratchet wheel I 39 although loosely mounted upon stub shaft I2? is prevented from moving due to the engagement of the spur gears I48 and I33, there being sufficient friction in the movement of shaft I32 to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel I39 when the pawls move counterclockwise. When the piston rod I52 moves downwardly the pawl plate I33 is rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '12, and one or the other of the noses I46 or I4! of the respective pawls engages in one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel I33. Such engagement causes the ratchet wheel to be rocked in timed relationship with the pawl plate and hence spur gear I43 is rotated thereby rotating spur gear I33 and shaft I32. It will be noted that the shaft I32 is rocked in a counter=clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 12.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, the mechanism described is employed to feed to each of the packaging stations a cardboard separator which is interposed between the layers of biscuits in the forms. Each of the rolls I34 is adapted to feed one separator forwardly. Accordingly, there are five roll's I34 mounted in spaced relationship upon shaft I32.

Associated with each roll I34 is a guide plate I54 having upwardly extending guide flanges I 55. The guide plates I54 are in alignment with the rolls I34 and are inclined in a direction substantially tangentto said rolls. A continuous fibrous corrugated member I55 is adapted to move upwardly along each guide plate I54, the corrugated member I53 having a flat fibrous liner I57 and an adhesively united corrugated fibrous member I58. The corrugations in the'surfaces of the rolls I34 are such as to conform with the corrugations I58 and in order to feed the corrugated members I55 upwardly and forwardly the corrugations I58 of each corrugated member are brought into registration with the corrugations I35 in the rolls I34. Accordingly, when the rolls I34 are rocked the corrugated members I56 are fed forwardly upon the platform I26 until a portion of the corrugated member overlies the edge of the shear plate I25.

A top plate I59 is mounted upon each of the castings I2I adjacent the end plates I23. A bearing I63 is mounted upon each of the top plates and functions to support a shaft IISI. Throughout the length of the shaft IISI a plurality of sleeves I62 are mounted in embracing relationship with respect to said shaft, said sleeves being loosely mounted upon the shaft. Adjacent the opposite ends of each sleeve are arms I63 which at their outer ends are pivotally connected to lugs I54 carried upon confining plates I65. The confining plates I55 are of curved contour and are adapted to rest upon the respective corrugated members I55 as they pass over the rolls I34. The confining plates I65 extend downwardly in substantially parallel relationship to the inclined guide plates I54 whereby the cor-- rugated members I56 are confined beneath the confining plates I65 as said corrugated members leave the guide plates I54 and travel over the respective rolls I34. In view of the fact that the sleeves I62 are loosely mounted upon shaft I6I the confining plates I65 merely rest by gravity upon the upper portion of the respective corrugated members during their passage over the rolls I34. To prevent undue buckling of the corrugated member between the rolls I34 and the shear plate I a plurality of horizontal guides I66 are mounted in spaced relationship over platform I26.

Mounted at each end of the transverse frame member I28 is an upwardly extending guide rod I61. A standard I68 supports each guide rod I61 at its upper end. A shearing frame I69 is slidably mounted at each of its ends upon the opposite guide rods I61, the shearing frame being adapted for vertical slidable movement upon said rods. A shaft I16 is mounted upon one of the standards I68 and extends outwardly therefrom. At the end of the shaft I16 an arm I1I is rigidly mounted, the end of said arm being pivotally connected to connecting rod I12 which in turn is pivotally connected to a piston rod I13 which operates in fluid pressure cylinder I14 carried upon the frame member 96 by means of brackets I15. At the opposite end of shaft I19 on the opposite side of standard I68 from arm I1I an arm I16 is carried, said arm being rigidly connected to shaft I18. A lug I11 is mounted upon the shear frame I69 and a link I18 pivotally connects the end of arm I16 to lug I11. The arrangement is such, that when piston rod I13 is reciprocated within the cylinder I14 shaft I16 is rocked thereby slidably moving the shear frame I69 upwardly and downwardly along the guide rods I61.

A plurality of shearing blades I19 are carried upon the lower portion of the shear frame I69, said blades being secured to the shear frame by means of pins I8I which pass loosely through apertures in the blades, said pins being embraced by coil springs I82 to maintain each of the shearing blades I19 in firm resilient contact with the shear frame I69. The shearing blades I16 during reciprocating motion of the shear frame I69 cooperate with the shear blades I25 carried upon the frame I23. Transversely, the blades I19 are spaced from each other so as to shear the corrugated members I56 which are moved forwardly over the upper surface of the shear plate I26.

During the operation of the machine the biscuits 45 which are delivered by the belts 64 to the platforms 61 are moved from the platforms by means of the pusher members 88. During this operation a form H3 is positioned at each packaging station. It will be noted, however, that the charging stations, that is, the five pusher members 88 are offset laterally with regard to the five separator cutting stations. The form II3 which is opposite the first cutter station, that is, the endmost cutter to the right as viewed in Fig. '1, has its movable platform H3 at its uppermost position. The upper surface of the platform I I8 of this form is beneath the shear plate I25. Consequently, when a length of the corrugated member I56 has been delivered forwardly by the roll I34 and the shear frame I69 has descended, a strip of the corrugated member will be out from the member proper and will be deposited immediately upon the upper surface of the platform I I8.

The form in question then moves to the left as viewed in Fig. '1. The platform I I8 in moving to the next cutter station is lowered by virtue of the inclined track H1. The form stops opposite this cutter station which is also in alignment with the first packaging station. The pusher member 88 in this packing station moves the three biscuits 45 carried upon the platform 61 at this packaging station onto the upper surface of the platform II8. However, a separator strip was previously deposited upon the platform H8 and hence the three biscuits have a separator strip interposed between them and the upper surface of the platform I I8. After the three biscuits have been charged to the form in this station the roll I34 operates to move a length of the corrugated member forwardly and a strip is sheared therefrom, the strip falling onto the upper surface of the three biscuits positioned in the form. While the strip is being deposited upon the three biscuits in the form in question a corrugated strip is deposited upon the next form rearwardly with respect to the motion of the forms, that is, the endmost form to the right shown in Fig. '1.

The form in question then moves to the next packaging station, the platform II6 descending by virtue of the inclined track II1. Three biscuits are deposited upon the separator carried upon the upper surfaces of the first three biscuits carried upon the platform. The form immediately to the right of the form in question, as viewed in Fig. 7, receives simultaneously its first tier of three biscuits. Subsequently, corrugated strips are deposited upon the second tier of biscuits in the form in question and the first tier of biscuits in the form to the right thereof and also to the upper surface of the platform II8 of the form immediately adjacent the last form mentioned.

The form in question then moves to the next packaging station and the operation is repeated until five layers or tiers of biscuits are deposited within the form and carried by the platform I I8. After the operation has continued past the period when the first five forms are moved through the packaging stations, the subsequent operations are repeated. The pusher members 88 simultaneously push three biscuits to the form in the respective packaging stations. Subsequently five strips of corrugated material are deposited from the five shearing stations. This operation is a continuous operation.

In order to prevent the sheared corrugated material from buckling during and after the shear frame I69 descends a pair of spring fingers I83 carried by the pins I descend with each cutter blade carried by the shear frame I69. The ends of the spring fingers I83 bear upon the upper surface of the cut strip of corrugated material. Prior to that time, however, a pair of spring fingers 94 carried by each pusher member 88 move into a position above the deposited biscuits during the time that the pusher members move the biscuits into the form. Hence, when the corrugated strip is fed forwardly in overhanging relationship to the biscuits fed to the'form, the fingers 94 are deposited immediately beneath the strip of corrugated material. When the shearing plate 19 descends the fingers I83 move with resilient pressure onto the upper surface of this strip. The ends of the fingers I83 and 94 are thus in contact with the strip, the fingers I83 being flexed upwardly by the strip and the fingers 94 being flexed downwardly by the strip. Accordingly, each strip is maintained in a substantially flat horizontal position whereby when the pusher members 88 move rearwardly away from the form the fingers I 83 cause the corrugated strip to be moved downwardly under the resilient pressure built up in the spring fingers. In this fashion the severed corrugated strip is prevented from buckling or canting and is deposited upon the upper surfaces of the tier of biscuits in a proper manner.

As has been hereinbefore described, the forms H3 are moved intermittently relative tothe packaging stations 99- I3 inclusive, said forms being carried by the sprocket chains I82 and I83. The sprocket chains in turn are driven by the sprocket wheels I90 and I8I mounted respectively on shafts 98 and 99. The shaft 99 is the drive shaft and the drive for moving the forms in intermittent fashion will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be noted that shaft 98 is journaled in frame 28. A spur gear I85 is mounted upon shaft 98 and is adapted to mesh with a spur gear 88 mounted upon shaft I87 positioned immediately beneath shaft 98. A ratchet wheel 88 is freely mounted upon shaft I87 and is rigidly secured to spur gear I86. The ratchet wheel IE8 is provided with ratchet teeth I89 defined on one side by shoulder 99 and on the opposite side by the tapered surface I9I. A pawl plate I92 is freely mounted upon shaft I97 and carries a pawl I93 pivotally secured to the pawl plate I 92 as at I99 in Fig. 10. A coil spring I95 is anchored at one end upon the pawl I93 and at the opposite end upon pin I96 which is carried by the pawl plate I92, said spring functioning to urge the pawl I93 toward the ratchet teeth.

A link I9? is pivotally mounted at one end as at I98 in Fig. 10 to the pawl plate I92. Ihe opposite end of the link I9! is provided with an elongated slot I99 which is adapted to engage with a pin 288 carried upon an arm 261i. The arm 28I is pivotally connected as at 202 in Fig. 10 4 to lug 203 carried upon a portion of the frame 29.

Pawl plate I92 is pivotally connected as at 284 in Fig. 10 to a connecting rod 295. The connecting rod 285 at its opposite end is pivotally connected as at 298 to clevis 281 which is carried upon the end of piston rod 298. Piston rod 288 operates in fluid pressure cylinder 289 which is carried by means of brackets 2I9, only one of which is shown, which in turn secures the cylinder 299 in fixed position upon the frame 26.

At the end of shaft 98 upon the opposite side of frame 29 from the sprocket wheels a drum 2I I is rigidly carried. A brake band 2I2 carrying a brake lining 2I3 embraces the face of the drum 2i i. as at 2M in Fig. 10 to a portion of the frame 26 and an arm 2I5 is pivotally secured at the point of anchorage of the brake band 2I2. Intermediate the length of arm 215 the opposite end of the brake band 2I2 is pivotally secured as at 2H3 in Fig. 10. An adjustable link 2I'I is pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the arm 2H5 and at the opposite end is pivotally secured to one end of lever M8. The lever 2I8 is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 2 I9 carried upon frame 26. A fluid pressure cylinder 229 is carried by means of brackets 22I upon a portion of frame 26 and a piston rod 222 is operatively positioned within the cylinder 220. The end of arm of lever 9I9 is constructed in the form of a fork 223 which embraces a portion of piston rod 222, nuts 224 functioning to maintain the fork 223 in operative relationship with respect to the piston rod 222.

The operation of the intermittent drive here- The brake band 2&2 is pivotally anchored inabove described is as follows: The introduc tion of fluid pressure into one or the other end of cylinder 289 causes piston rod 298 to reciprocate within the cylinder. This motion is transmitted to the pawl plate I92 and results in a rocking motion of the pawl plate about shaft I8'I. When the pawl plate I92 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, the pawl 93 rides over the tapered face I9I of one of the ratchet teeth and eventually positions itself with its operative end adjacent a shoulder I98 of said ratchet tooth. Simultaneously the link I9! moves upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 10, the pin 288 relatively moving Within the slot I99 until the lower end of said slot is encountered at which time the arm 28I is rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, about the pivot 292. In this fashion the end of arm 20I is disengaged from a tapered side of one of the ratchet teeth.

During this operation, that is, when the pawl plate is rocked in a counterclockwise direction the piston rod 222 so moves as to apply the brake to the drum 2I I. In other words, the piston rod 222 moves inwardly relative to the cylinder 229. Accordingly, during the period that the pawl plate I92 rocks in a counterclockwise direction the shaft 98 is maintained stationary by the brake. Obviously, shaft 98 is maintained stationary during this period which results in the forms being stationary and a predetermined number thereof being disposed adjacent the packaging stations.

Thereafter piston rod 288 moves to the left, as viewed in Fig. 10, thereby rocking pawl plate I92 in a clockwise direction. In view of the fact that the operative end of pawl I93 is in engagement with a shoulder I99 of a ratchet tooth, the ratchet wheel I88 is also rocked in a clockwise direction. This rocking operation is imparted to spur gear I88 which in turn rotates spur gear I and rotates shaft 98. At the inception of the clockwise movement of the pawl plate I92 the brake upon shaft 98 is released by the appropriate movement of the piston rod 222. As the clockwise movement of the pawl plate I92 takes place, link I9! moves downwardly as viewed in Fig. 10 until the pin 28!] carried upon the arm 28I engages the upper end of the slot I99 at which time the arm Bill is rocked in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 292 until the tapered end of the arm 29I contacts the tapered face I9I of the adjacent ratchet tooth. This limits the clockwise movement of the pawl plate 192 and hence properly locates predetermined forms I I3 in the adjacent packaging stations. In this fashion an intermittent movement is imparted to the sprocket chains which in turn periodically move the forms from one packaging station to the next packaging station, also causing the forms adjacent the packaging stations to dwell at the packaging stations for a predetermined period of time necessary to charge the forms with the biscuits and properly position the corrugated strips within the forms.

Referring to Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the timing mechanism for the machine is illustrated. The timing mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 225, is carried within a housing comprising a base 226, end walls 221-22! and removable cover 228 comprising the side walls and top of the housing. The mechanism comprises essentially a sequence-timer shaft 229 journaled in suitable bearings supported by spaced standards 239 mounted upon the base each valve.

226. The shaft 2261s driven by a fluid motor 231 which, in turn, receives fluid under pressure from a fluid pump 232 (Fig. 3), the latter being driven by an electric motor 232. The fluid motor 231 drives the sequence timer shaft 229 through a conventional gear reducer 233 coupled to the motor 23! by means of coupling -233-. -A solenoid operated valve (not shown in Figs. 14, 15 or 16, the solenoid, however, being shown diagrammatically at 234 in Fig. 17) controls the flow of fluid from pump 232 to fluid motor 23i, the arrangement being such that, when the valve is open the shaft 226 rotates and when closed the shaft 229 is stopped.

Brackets 235 are carried upon the inner face 'of each of the end walls 22l-221, said brackets being adapted to support a platform 236 which is positioned above, and disposed parallel to, the sequence-timer shaft 229. A plurality of fluid operating valves 231, 238, 239, 246 and 24! are mounted upon the platform 236, said valves being carried in spaced relationship along the length of the platform. The valves 23? to 24l inclusive are all similar and are of the conventional fourway spool type, the control element of each valve being operated by rod 242 which projects from Each of the valves 231 to 24! inelusive has a connection to a source of fluid under pressure (not shown); a return line connection to a fluid reservoir (not shown) and connections to each end of cylinders 82, I51, 114, 269 and 226, respectively. When the rod or stem 242 of each of the valves is in its in-position, the pressure source is connected to one end of a respective operating cylinder while the other end is vented to the return line. When the stem is in its outermost position, these connections are reversed.

A plurality of pairs of cams 245 are mounted upon the timer shaft 22 9, one pair of cams being disposed adjacent each of the valves 23? to 24! inclusive. Each cam pair 245 comprises cams 246 and 241. A bracket 268 is carried upon platform 236 adjacent each cam pair 245 and a T- shaped lever 248 is pivoted at the juncture of the T-arms to each bracket. One arm 249 of each of the levers 248 is pivotally connected to a link 259 which latter is ivotally connected to each of the stems 242 of the valves 23! to 24l inclusive. The opposite arm 25| of each of the levers carries a cam roller 252 which cooperates with each of the cams 241. The transverse arm 253 of each of the levers carries a cam roller 254 which cooperates with each of the cams 246. The arrangement is such that in conjunction with each valve 23'! to 24! inclusive, each cam 246 functions through the transverse arm 253 to move the respective stem to its outermost position and each cam 24'! through the agency of an arm 251 functions to move the respective stem to its innermost position.

Valve 231 is associated with cylinder 62 and controls the release of a transverse row of bis- 'cuits from the platform 31. Valve 238, is associated with cylinder l5! and controls the operation of said cylinder, which, in turn, controls the forward feed of the spacers I56. Valve 239 similarly controls the operation of cylinder I14 for moving the shear frame I69 to cut the spacers. Valve 240 controls the operation of cylinder 209 for intermittently driving the shaft 98 which, in turn, moves the package forms, and valve 24! controls the operation of cylinder 226, which, in turn, manipulates the brake for stopping shaft '98 and the associated form-moving mechanism.

A shaft 255 is mounted upon brackets 256 carried by platform 236 and a lever 25! is mounted upon said shaft and is rotatable relative thereto. One end of lever 25'! carries a cam-follower roller 258 which is adapted to ride upon the periphery of cam 259 which, in turn, is mounted upon timer shaft 229 and rotates therewith. A coil spring 26!] connected to an arm 26l of lever 25'! is anchored upon the platform 236 at its opposite end and functions to maintain roller 258 in contact with cam 259. A bracket 262 is carried upon lever 25! and carries a mercury switch 263 comprising a portion of the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 17, to be hereinafter more fully described. As will be brought out hereinafter switch 263 is normally closed and is periodically opened once during each rotation of shaft 229 by the peak of cam 259.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1'7, 264 indicates a source of electric current. A conductor 2G5 connects one side of the line to a plurality of micro-switches 6| all of which are connected in series. The circuit containing the microswitches connects through solenoid 234 to conductor 266, which, in turn, connects to the opposite side of the line. As has been hereinbefore described solenoid 234 operates the control valve which governs the flow of fluid from pump 232 to fluid motor 23!. Mercury switch 263, carried by cam-operated lever 25'! is connected in parallel with the micro-switches 6|, that is, the micro-switches connected in series with each other are connected in parallel with the mercury switch 263 and the parallel circuit so formed is connected in series with solenoid 234.

As has been hereinbefore described, each micro-switch 6! is closed when itsrespective arm 63 is in upraised position, being maintained in this position when a column of articles are in end abutting relationship upon belt I6 (Fig. 4). As has also been hereinbefore described, mercury switch 263 is normally closed, but is periodically opened once per revoluton of timer shaft 229. Hence, when all of the micro-switches 6| are closed, the circuit to the solenoid 234 remains closed regardless of the periodic opening of the mercury switch and, hence, shaft 229 continues to rotate since the valve controlled by solenoid 234 remains open and fluid is delivered to motor 23L Whenever the arm 63 of any one of the micro-switches 6! drops to the dotted line position (Fig. 4) due to a deficiency of biscuits upon a belt I6, the corresponding switch 6| opens. However, the circuit to solenoid 234 remains closed for a period of time due to the fact that mercury switch 263 is closed. Hence, shaft 229 continues to rotate until switch 263 is opened. If, when mercury switch 263 opens, the microswitch 6|, in question, is still open, that is, the contiguous relationship of the biscuits upon belt :6 has not been reestablished, the circuit to solenoid 234 opens with the opening of the mercury switch and shaft 229 stops. Hence, all operations of the machine stop except the movement of belts is which continue to move thereby tending to reestablish the column of articles upon the belt in question and close the respective micro-switch. When this occurs, solenoid 234 is again energized and the valve between pump 232 and motor 231 is opened and shaft 229 is again rotated.

In the optimum condition for operation of the machine proper relative to the conveyors I6, an accumulation or column of biscuits extending from each finger 55 to about the vicinity of the arm 63, but not appreciably farther back on the conveyor, is contemplated. This condition is 

